Little Tokyo Connected!

OBAACHAN (Grandma): An exhibition of children’s book illustrations by Janet Mitsui Brown runs through this Saturday, December 20, 2008.

The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) is pleased to present OBAACHAN (Grandma), an exhibition and survey of artist Janet Mitsui Brown’s children’s book illustrations that spans over 2 decades.

OBAACHAN offers a glimpse into the extraordinary artistic journey of Mitsui Brown and her OBAACHAN (Grandma) three children’s storybooks Thanksgiving at Obaachan’s (Thanksgiving at Grandma’s), Oshogatsu with Obaachan (New Year’s with Grandma) and Obon for Obaachan (Summer Festival for Grandma). The tri-series tells the story of the relationship between a Japanese American grandmother (Obaachan) who only speaks Japanese, a granddaughter who only speaks English and how they share Japanese culture and its traditions as a way to relate to one another.

The exhibition at the George J. Doizaki Gallery will demonstrate the process of book illustration and its evolution from traditional hand-drawn illustration and coloring to the contemporary technique of computer generated and enhanced illustrations. Also on display will be cultural artifacts and research materials from Mitsui Brown’s archives which were used as part of her efforts to ensure the cultural accuracy of her illustrations. Audiences can appreciate Mitsui Brown’s lengthy process of research and refinement – sketching and collaborating with community advisors, utilizing color to enhance and recreate the feel of community traditions, and putting in hours of sheer technical work to recreate the Japanese American experience between a grandmother and granddaughter.

OBAACHAN is an intimate exhibition for the entire family, illustration connoisseurs and children’s literature enthusiasts.

This exhibition is made possible in part by a grant from The Durfee Foundation.

George J. Doizaki Gallery
Admission Free

Gallery Hours:
Tues-Fri, 12-5pm
Sat and Sun, 11-4pm